ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

“I think when any musician is recording, he becomes self-conscious and he cannot give his best. But it is also true that we have lost many great musicians; now at least the next generation can get some sort of idea of their music from these recordings. I think that recording live concerts is a much better way.” --Nikhil Banerjee

To preserve his legacy and show the full scope of his musical vision, Raga Records is reproducing a series of live concert masters. Third in the series, this recording was made in Berkeley, before one of Mr. Banerjee's most appreciative American audiences. The first rag played that evening, Purabi Kalyan, is available as Raga-207, a 2-CD set.

Swapan Chaudhuri is one of today’s finest tabla players. He has long been associated with Nikhilda. Critics have described his playing as having a high degree of confidence, elegant clarity and laya accuracy. Born in 1947, he received his training from Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas of Calcutta, the eminent exponent of the Lucknow Gharana. He is the tabla master at the Ali Akbar College of Music, and has performed and recorded extensively with Ali Akbar Khan and many other leading musicians.

Misra Kafi was recorded during the second half of a concert, and shows Mr. Banerjee at his most mellow and relaxed. The scale corresponds to a Western minor scale; misra (‘mixed’) means that flashes of other ragas will occasionally be heard.

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